Chair cushion slip cover with pockets

ABSTRACT

The present application relates to a seat cushion made of a foam cushion enclosed in fabric. The foam cushion is inserted into the fabric through an opening and placed on top of a chairs seat. The fabric also contains integral opposing pockets where personal articles and items can be held. The pockets lie to the left and right side of the seat and the back panel lies to the back of the seat once the cushion is secured to the chair. The fabric contains ties that secure the cushion to the back legs of the chair. The integral back panel can be a pocket on the seat slip cover. The seat slip cover can cover the entire length of the back spine of a chair, the entire length of the back legs of a chair or the entire length of all the legs of a chair.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/417,569 filed Apr. 5, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for any purpose whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosed Embodiments

The disclosed embodiments relate to seat cushions and slip covers for chairs used in recreational and entertainment venues.

2. Background of the Disclosure

Traditional slip covers known in the art, such as those that cover entire couches, sofas or love seats are without any function other than to change the appearance and look of the furniture. Similarly, conventional chair pads are made of fabric covered cushions that either are placed or tied to a chair and also provide the sole function of changing the appearance of the chair. Traditional slip covers do not enhance an individuals seating experience. Conventional chair pads may provide little comfort but they are flimsy at best.

Other types of seat covers known in the art surround the automobile industry. Such seat covers engulf a car's seat's cushion where the seat and the cushion are attached to the car and immovable. Such seat covers do not cover chairs or seats that can be moved or rearranged such as those chairs or seats found at indoor and outdoor receptions, galas, halls and auction houses.

The majority of chairs used at formal and informal and indoor and outdoor receptions, galas, and other like functions in todays time are chiavari brand chairs. Such chairs have a unique design and function. The special design of the chiavari chair is achieved by structural sections. Each component is designed according to the specific stresses it will carry. The present application compliments the chair and allows for additional weight to be supported by the chair. The seat portion of the chiavari chair is made with thin strips of willow wood and is often deemed uncomfortable especially when a person sits for extended periods of time. Similar chairs often have wooden bases for a seat platform and typically lack comfort. Other parts of the chiavari chair and other chairs used at such functions are made of resin and metal which add to the discomfort for an individual sitting. The present application cures the discomfort problem by creating a comfortable seat cushion coupled with the functional use of pockets and panels for retaining important objects and belongings.

At indoor or outdoor receptions or parties, guests, either women or men dressed in evening wear or not, often are without a place to hold their clutches, personal belonging or bags. As a result, reception tables are often cluttered. Aggravating this situation, if a drink spills or food falls, the risk of ruin to a persons belongings that is situated on the table is very real. The present invention solves these concerns by creating a seat cushion and slip cover with pockets that are able to hold and protect the important, sentimental and sometimes expensive items an individual brings to a reception, party, gala or function.

At such events and receptions, including events held at auction houses, the belongings of guests are often placed on the floor. This leads to other guests kicking and subsequently damaging these belongings or in the worst case scenario, an individuals belongings are lost. A cluttered table or floor also disrupts the form and ambiance of the event, whether the event is of a higher caliber or more casual. In an outdoor event, the wind is a persons worst enemy. A persons napkin is always flying away due to the wind. Reception and gala servers and waiters usually place the napkin in the chair in a folded position and the napkin usually flies away here too. There is a need for a place where a persons napkin can be stored. The present application solves the problems encountered by guests of reception, gala and like functions.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

In general, in a first aspect, the disclosure features a seat cushion made of a foam cushion which is enclosed in fabric. The cushion is inserted into the fabric through an opening and placed on top of a chairs seat. The fabric also contains integral opposing pockets where personal articles and items can be held. The pockets lie to the left and right side of the seat and the back panel lies to the back of the seat once the cushion is secured to the chair. The fabric contains ties that secure the cushion to the back legs of the chair. The disclosure also features a seat slip covering made of fabric which covered the back spine of a chair and either the back legs of the chair or all the legs of the chair; such that the fabric touches the floor. The seat slip cover includes an integral back panel pocket for the insertion of personal articles and items. The back panel pocket can be positioned at any point on the slip cover. Side pockets can be included on the seat slip cover.

The fabric covered cushion can fit directly onto a chiavari chair. There are no screws or tools needed. In another embodiment, the cushion can be configured to fit various models of chairs or measured or made to order depending on the style or model of chair. The cushion is slipped into the fabric through an opening. The inserted cushion allows the fabric to be taut which allows the design of the fabric to be more apparent. The fabric opening where the cushion is inserted into faces down on to the seat portion of the chair. The fabric is also configured with two fabric ties which are integrally connected to the fabric covering the cushion. The ties are integral to the fabric and can be tied around the wooden frame of the chiavari chair, or other type chairs, where the seating platform meets the back chair legs. In another embodiment, additional ties can be integral to the fabric or attached to the cushion. The amount of fabric ties is dependent on the chair or the cushion desired. In addition, the type and amount of ties may be dependent on the desire of the consumer or the desire of the reception venue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an illustrative side view of the seat cushion with side pockets and a back panel installed on a chair.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative side view of the seat cushion with side pockets and a back panel installed on a chair.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of a slip cover installed on a chair with an exterior pocket positioned on the midway point of the slip cover.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view of a slip cover installed on a chair with an exterior pocket positioned on the upper back panel of the slip cover.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of a slip cover installed on a chair covering only the top portion of a chair.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of the slip cover installed on a chair with exterior side pockets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, a chair 50 is shown with the seat cushion 40 connected to the chair 50 via fabric ties 30. The fabric covering the seat cushion includes three exterior panels. The first panel 10A is integrally attached to the fabric and covers the seat cushion 40 and is comprised of a pocket 10A and is positioned on the exterior of the chair to the left of a persons side when seated. As shown in FIG. 2, the right panel is integrally attached to the fabric and is comprised of a pocket 10B which is positioned on the exterior of the chair to the right of a persons side when seated. As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the third panel 20 is positioned on the exterior of the chair near the backside of a person when seated. In another embodiment, the third panel 20 can include a pocket. In another embodiment, the fabric panel pockets 10A, 10B can be integrally attached to the seat cushion 40. The fabric used for covering the seat cushion insert and the fabric ties is polyester. However, any fabric can be used.

The cushion is made from a polyurethane, environmentally safe, high-density, and high purity foam. Depending on the make of the chair, the seat cushion can be of any desired length, width or depth. Additional seat cushion thicknesses and heights can be made depending on the desired comfort of the person needing the chair or the reception venue. The foam core that makes up the seat cushion can be taken out of the fabric and the fabric can be washed.

The measurements of the seat cushion match the measurements of the chiavari chair or what ever chair the seat cushion fits and are as follows: as low as 2″ thickness; 16″ length; and 16 total width but the cushion begins to taper down towards the rear of the seat at about 13″ of the width. The measurements of the fabric panel pockets 10A, 10B are as follows: 13″ in length; 8″ in height/width; and contain an interior pocket depth of 5″. The pockets are 8″ in depth and can expand to accommodate a variety of objects. Depending on the make and model of the chair and the desire of the individual hosting a party at a reception venue, the pocket can be of any length, width or depth. The pockets can hold up to 2 pounds each in weight without disturbing the other empty pocket or seat cushion.

The pocket is capable of receiving multiple items belonging to men and women, including but not limited to: auction bidding paddles, clutches, wallets, umbrellas, evening bags, menus, party favors, programs, playbills, cell phones, and cameras. In another embodiment, the pocket can be sealed via velcro, snaps, zippers, magnets or other fastening means. The fabric panel or pockets can be various colors and sizes and are meant to be aesthetically pleasing depending on the occasion and/or reception where the chair is needed. The exterior design of the pocket can be decorative, an inverted box pleat and may also contain piping details.

Any fabric can be used for the pocket, panel and to cover the foam. The fabric can be velvet, taffeta, or polyester. In a preferred embodiment, the fabric can be made of a high quality, upholstery-grade bengaline fabric. Heavy duty polyester threads are used everywhere to ensures the ties do not detach from the fabric. The fabric can be of a heavier thread count or fabric grade so as to receive heavier objects such that the seat cushion can remain on the chair whether a person is siting on the seat cushion or not.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fabric panel pocket 32 is integrally attached to the fabric which comprises a slip cover 36. The slip cover 36 fits directly over the full length of the spine backing of a chiavari chair 34 or other chairs of different makes and models (not shown). The slip cover 36 proceeds down to the floor such as to create a skirt around the back two chair legs of the bottom of the chair 38. As shown in FIG. 3, the back panel pocket 32 is located in the midway portion of the slip cover in a position slightly above the seating platform. In another embodiment, the slip cover as shown in FIG. 3 may include a back panel pocket positioned slightly below the seating platform of the chair. The pocket 32, similar to the seat cushion pockets can hold individual belongings and items of importance. Similar to the fabric covering the cushion inserts, the slip covers can be made of various fabric types, colors and designs for aesthetic reasons.

As shown in FIG. 4, the slip cover 48 fits directly over the full length of the spine backing of a chiavari chair 44 (or any other make and model of chair), covers the seating platform of the chair and all four legs of the chair 44, and proceeds to create a skirt at the bottom 46 of the chair 44. As shown in FIG. 4, the back panel pocket 42 is positioned on the upper portion of the fabric of the slip cover 48. The pocket 42, similar to the seat cushion pockets can hold individual belongings and items of importance.

As shown in FIG. 5, the slip cover 56 covers only the top portion of the back of the chair's 54 spine. In FIG. 5, the pocket 52 is located slightly above where the seating platform meets the back legs of the chair 54. In another embodiment, the length of the slip cover can be raised or lowered on the chairs spine depending on the individuals desires or the desired ambiance of the reception or event. Likewise, the back panel pocket 52 can be positioned at any desired location on the slip cover 56.

In another embodiment, the slip covers shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, may include side pockets on either side of the seat platform. In another embodiment, the slip cover shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 may be used in conjunction with the aforementioned and described seat cushion wherein the seat cushion is still tied to the back legs where the seat meets the back legs of the chair.

Similar to FIG. 4, the slip cover 68 as shown in FIG. 6, covers the entire chair 64. The slip cover the back spine of the chair, the seating platform of the chair and proceeds down to the bottom of the chair 66 thereby creating a skirt around the four legs of the chair. The slip cover 68 in FIG. 6 includes side pockets 62 (right side pocket not shown). Similar to the seat cushion pockets, all slip cover pockets are able to retain personal belongings of individuals at receptions, auctions and galas.

In another embodiment, the cushion or the fabric may be equipped with an adhesive on it underside that can be adhered to the chair's seating platform or the chair's existing cushion. In any scenario, the seat cushion provide greater comfort to the individual while providing a feeling if security that their personal items and belongings are protected and secure.

It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the disclosed embodiments. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the disclosed methods and systems. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain principles of the disclosure.

All statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the disclosure, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

In the disclosure hereof any element expressed as a means for performing a specified function is intended to encompass any way of performing that function. Applicants thus regard any means which can provide those functionalities as equivalent to those shown herein. It is intended that the present disclosure include modifications and variations that are within the scope of the subject disclosure and equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A seat cushion comprising: a foam cushion enclosed in fabric; said fabric including: an opening for the insertion of the cushion; and integral opposing pockets for insertion of a plurality of articles and items; and an integral back panel; and a plurality of integral ties; and wherein the inserted fabric covered cushion is positioned on top of the seating platform of a chair; and wherein the opposing pockets are positioned exterior to the left and right side of the seating platform; and wherein the back panel is positioned exterior on the back side of the seating platform; and wherein the plurality of ties secure the cushion to the back legs of the chair.
 2. A seat slip covering comprising: a fabric covering the back spine of a chair and the entire length of the back legs of the chair; and including an integral back panel pocket for the insertion of a plurality of articles and items; said integral back panel pocket positioned midway on the exterior of the seat slip cover.
 3. The seat slip cover of claim 2, further comprising, the fabric covering the upper back spine of the chair.
 4. The seat slip cover of claim 2, wherein the integral back panel pocket is positioned on the seat slip cover at any desired position.
 5. A seat slip cover comprising: a fabric covering the back spine of a chair, a seating platform of the chair and the entire length of all four legs of the chair; and including an integral back panel pocket positioned on the upper portion of the exterior of the seat slip cover.
 6. The seat slip cover of claim 4, further comprising integral opposing pockets for insertion of a plurality of articles and items.
 7. The seat slip cover of claim 4, further comprising the integral back panel pocket positioned midway on the exterior of the seat slip cover.
 8. The seat slip cover of claim 4, wherein the integral back panel pocket is positioned on the slip cover at any desired position.
 9. The seat cushion of claim 1, wherein the chair is a chiavari chair. 